Lamine Kone is out of Sunday’s Wear-Tees clash – with Papys Djilobodji set to make his Premier League debut against Middlesbrough.

Sunderland were already without one half of their first-choice central defensive pairing with Younes Kaboul on the verge of joining Watford.

And Kone’s withdrawal with a back injury, confirmed by David Moyes this lunchtime, means the Scot will be forced to go into his first home game in charge with a makeshift defence.

Djilobodji was Moyes’ first summer signing, joining from Chelsea in an £8m deal a fortnight ago, but he has never played a league game in England.

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He is likely to partner either the experienced John O’Shea, or new signing from Manchester United Paddy McNair against Boro.

But it is the news that Kone is out of action that will be the biggest blow for Sunderland fans.

The timing of the Ivory Coast defender’s injury will set the rumour mill in motion once again, coming just a week after Kone apparently handed in a transfer request.

Everton have made a bid for the 27-year-old, but Sunderland are desperately trying to hold on to a player who only joined in January and who was one of the heroes of their successful fight for survival last season.